Kearney's exit from St Mirren 'completely his choice'

Chairman says former manager wanted to commute daily to Paisley from Northern Ireland.

Oran Kearney: Now in charge at Coleraine.
SNS

St Mirren chairman Gordon Scott claims everyone knew Oran Kearney was heading for Coleraine and his departure was entirely the former manager's choice.

Scott was frustrated at the timing of Kearney's exit, which was announced by "mutual consent" on June 26, a month after the Buddies survived a relegation play-off. Kearney was re-appointed Coleraine manager seven days later.

The Ballymoney-based manager had wanted to commute to Scotland daily and Scott claimed a compromise proved insufficient to keep the Northern Irishman at Paisley.

Scott, who quickly appointed Jim Goodwin as Kearney's replacement, said: "It was the worst-kept secret in Scottish football that he was going.

"We knew he was going and were prepared for it. We did all our due diligence on the new manager, we organised pre-season training in spite of him, not with him."

Jim Goodwin: Quickly appointed St Mirren manager.
SNS

Scott added: "He wanted to stay but under the right conditions. He wanted to commute literally on a daily basis, which again to me was not acceptable.

"We started various conversations about it and as far as I was concerned it had been resolved. We came to a compromise and moved on but that obviously wasn't enough for him.

"It was his choice, completely his choice. I can understand it completely but the only thing that annoyed me was the timing of it.

"I had literally just arrived in America and was looking forward to having some fun over there and then had to spend the first six or seven days dealing with the fallout.

"It should have been sorted the last day. Maybe he wasn't 100 per cent wanting to go but if you look at the Coleraine job, it's pretty obvious he was always going there.

"Fortunately we had anticipated it and prepared for it and it's not affected us in any way, other than perhaps signing wise, we are not quite where we want to be, but in every other way we are where we want to be."

Kearney declared he was "gutted" after the announcement was made.

Scott said: "I think he genuinely was gutted. He would have liked this to work, but his family life is big for him, obviously.

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